The future of a popular café in Queen’s Park could hang in the balance after its contract has been offered out to the highest bidder.
Documents seen by this paper show the City of London Corporation, which manages Queen’s Park on Harvist Road, received nine bids to take over the lease of the Park Café as part of a wide-ranging shake up of café venues in parks and green spaces across North London.
The City of London Corporation is remaining tight-lipped about the company judged by park bosses as offering “the most economically advantageous tender”.
However the report states the lease has been awarded to “a popular, high-quality caterer with local knowledge” - meaning it could be retained by the current management or could change hands to new owners with links to the area.
The report also suggests a makeover could be on the cards as the successful bidder is expected to offer outside ‘pop-up’ units when the park is busy as well as “a significant investment” to improve facilities and catering provision.
Corporation chiefs also expect the new tenant will be a source of increased income thanks to a rent top-up.
Cllr James Denselow, Labour councillor for Queen’s Park ward, said he was aware the café was part of a tender and rent rise process.
He said the council is awaiting the results of the committee meeting on March 14 to find out its fate.
He added: “I have known this café in Queen’s Park for a very long time and when I was young it served very basic food- now it’s real gastro pub stuff and no one has ever had anything negative to say about it. The only real concern is if they decide to close it for whatever reason.”
He warned residents would also be keen to know whether the price and quality of food at the café would change if the it passes into new management.
A spokesman for the City of London Corporation said: “We are not able to comment ahead of the 14 March committee meeting.
“All parties involved will be informed as soon as it is appropriate to do so, and we will issue a public statement in due course.”
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